Intercommunicating telephone system.



P. G. BURGESS. I I V mwnacommumcume TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29; 191 RENEWED FEB. 12, 1913. f Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CHIEF um {MID UL 4 J I J I J r H Q I wvawfor,

Mucous:

P. G. BURGESS.

IN'IfERGOMMUNIGATING TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1910. BBNEWED FEB. 12,1?13.

1,080,260. Patented Dec.;2, 19l 3.

4: SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i. G. BURGESS. INTBRCOMMU'NIGATING TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29,1910. RENEWED 113.12, 1913.

1 080 260. Patented Dec. 2,1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEETS.

, P. G. BURGESS. mmcouuumcume TELEPHONE sxs'rnu. lPPLiOL'IIOH FILED SEPT. 29, 1910. BBIBWBD FEB. 12, 1013.

- Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

- 4 SHEETS-ll!!! A.

vwe MM UM Ten STA res PATENT @FFICE PERGI'VAL G. BURGESS, or Jenn es, NEW'YoRK, sssleuon', BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, r GENERAL AcoUsTIc'coM-BANY; A conPoRA'rIoN or'mw YORK.

\ mrnncomuumca'rme rntsrnonasrsrsm.

Specification of Letters rat'enti Patented Dec. 2', 1913.

. Application-filed September 29, 1810, Serial No. 584,414. Renewed February 12, 1913! Serial No. 748,017.

To all whom it may. concern czi leaving of a plug in any jack or plugs, even in two stations simultaneously on the same or difierent lines, will neither produce 1.

Be it known that I, PERCIVAL G; BURGESS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamaica, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a. new and use ful Ihtercommunicating Telephone System,'

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to intercommunicating'telephone systems and more particularly to'systems including a plurality of stations each having two special or local instrumentlline wires which are common to all the other stations and which at any station are adaptedto lie-connected by suitable jacks or keys to the instruments thereat; thereby putting: said'last mentioned station into com- 'munieation with this first.

By instrument I mean a telephone" set including transmitte'rreceiver and current source.

The presentinvention consists in a v;- riety of correlated" purposes, and in the means and combinations for effecting the same as hereinafter more particularly pointed out and claimed;

Among the various'aspects of the invention, the following may be mentioned for p the purposes of a general statement as to its nature and'objects.

One purpose or aspect is that no station can be-left in such a way as to interfere with the use of the system; in other words, the

ringing-of any buzzer or interfere with the talking of any parties in the system. This result; is partly due to the feature of the construction that provides a bus-bar common to all the jacks and which is normally in the talking hatterycircuit at each station,

- but which is wholly disconnected and put into the ringing battery circuit at the time of making a call. The result .is also due to (the nature of the connections established by fthe switch hook at each station.

This result further has a articular utility in its combination with t anon-conducting plug which I- prefer to employer; account of its.

simplicity, and which accomplishes in its combination with the circuitv of this invention the same purposes as have been previously effected by systems with automatically rclcasable'devices.

A further objectnf the invention lies in the means by which a call may be made from any stat-ion whether the rece' 'er thcrea't is on or the hook.

A further feature of invention lies in securing non-interference between the circuits under all talking and ringing conditions, and the accomplishing of this aswell 'asthe first mentioned purposes, with. a limited number of .c ntact points at the jacks.

A further feti'ture of the invention lies in providing a common battery for the talking circuits and a common battery for the ringingcircuits, but-in so arranging the circuits that underno'mormal conditions will both poles of one battery be put in any circuit relation which includes more-than one pole of'the other battery, norj undef'any condition will the battery circuits interfere with one another.

A further feature of the invention lies in the provision of a means whereby any 'sta tion of theintercommunicatuig system may be put m connection with a three wire d1ct0- graph system (later identified) and secure the requisites-of adictograph installation,

A further feature of invention lies in the arrangement of the circuits whereby the concerned, the claims of this case being more particularly directed to electrical circuits.

In addition to this the mounting of the transmitter presents certain features of novcity in its detachable support, and in its separation from the inclosing case.

In the drawings, Figure 1','1s a front view of a telephone set for one of the stations of an intercommu'nicating system embodying the principles of my invention; l ig. 2,

is a view of the same with 'thecover and transmitter removed; Fig. 3, is a" vertical sectional view of the same; Fig.4, is a detail horizontal sectional view of the jacks on the line i, 4, of Fig. 3; l ig'." is a vertical sectiomll View on the line a. 5, of Fig. 3: Fig. (i,

is a side elevation of tho truusmittcrj Fig. 7,

' later described.

is a top view of the transmitter; Fig. 8, is a bottom view of the transmitter; Fig. 9, is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the circuits; Fig. 10, shows the circuits for the connection of a dictograph in the system as above referred to; Fig. 1L, is a diagrammatic representation of the circuits when a dictograph is used.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes a suitable housing preferably composed of a base 2 and sheet metal cover 3 having an opening oropenings 4 for the entrance of sound to the transmitter, and openings 5 through which a plug is received as later described. Mounted on a base 2 within the cover 3 is a jack-frame 6, particularly shown in. Fig. 5. prefe'r to make the jackframe of channel or H shape transverse sec- .tion and of either sheet or cast metal. This construction provides base-lugs 7 and transverse lugs or face plate. 8 at the top. The face plate 8 may be in one or two parts.

9 denoteswhat I shall term the bus-bar support, and which in effect comprises two bus-bars with intervening insulation adapted to support the various springs 11, 1.1 of the jacks and ringing key. Each group of springs 11 .constitutes a complete jack or unit, and as many as desired maybe provided. In the drawings 1 ha ve shown eleven in all; five on one side and six on the other. Allthe jacks 11 are alike. The ringing key 11 I will specially refer to. The bus-bars proper are denoted 13 and it, of which H is substantially heavy and constitutes a frame into which-the screws 16 which clamp the other bus-bar and insulation are received. The various springs 11 are grouped in sets of four corresponding to the. individual jacks, and the two outside springs bear directly against the. adjacent bus-bars 13 and 14 against which such springs are clamped. The intermediatepair of spring blades of each jack have downward extensions to which circuit wires are attached, as The ringing key 11 is of slightly different construction. in that one of the outside spring blades does not bear against the eorresionding bus'bar 14, but is insulated therefrom. This ringing key ll also dill'ers from the other jacks in that the second and fourth spring blades project upward to be engagedby the wedge 17. whereas in the jacks 11 it is the two middle. spring blades which project upward for engagement by a suitable plug. The plug em-' ployed is denoted 1S and may have any suitable handle. This plug is of insulating material and has no \vire connection in any circuit or with anypart of this structure. It is evident that theserews It may be rereived between the springs 11 as shown, or may be hushed through the springs it desired. .\s shown the spring blades are rigidly lixed in their proper positions by the recesses in the insulation inwhich said springs are embedded, and also by the clamping engagement of the bus-bars 13 and ll. The same result may be obtained by the use of two screws with insulating bushings for each blade. The plug 18 is guided into proper position with the spring blade by the holes 19 in the face plate 8 of the frame 5.

It will be observed by the foregoing construction that a rigid guide is provided for the plug and a rig d support for the spring blades,all of simple and compact construction and adapted to complete the electrical circuits in a very sim le way.

On another part of he base 2 is provided a pair of upright spring prongs 20 and 21 each of which has a laterally extended forked-ear at its upper end.

23 denotes a transmitter. I prefer to employ a. very sensitive transmitter, such as is employed with the dictograpli fi U. S. Patent No. 843.186. 25 and 26 denote the circuit terminals of this instrument composed of studs adapted to be received in the forked-ears 22. This arrangement holds the transmitter in proper relation to the openings 4. of the cover and also out of contact with the cover which is advantageous in that it lessens the effect of vibration due to extraneous causes.

330 denotes a receiver switch hook on which a receiver, such as shown for example on latent 843,186. may be hung, and 32 denotes spring blades controlled by the switch book 30.

R3 is a buzzer of ordinary construction and 3+ are a pair of retardation coils in circuits as hereinafter"described.

diagram of the electric circuits is shown 5 partienhirly in Fig. 9. In this figure the svstem is shown in its normal condition, that is with all the plugs removed and all the ringing and talking circuits open. The receive 'at each station is here shown at R. the transmitter at 23, the bell, buzzer or indieator at 33. the retardation coils at 34. the switch hook at 30. the ringing key at l7. and a pair of bus-bars l?- aud 14 with connections For an intercominutzieating system of iour 5 stations. The spring blades collectivel designated 1'! in Figs. 4 and 5, are here diagrammatically illustrated in an obvious inanner in their eonneetidiYWith the busbars and in their relations to receive the plug '18. The various spring-blades will be later particularly referred to.

it is characteristic of my system that. two electric eoiuluetors whieh for the purpose ol a convenient designation may be termed 122 'busdmrs at each station form part of the series otjaeks thereat and that one '4 these bus-bars. denoted 14. is connected to the. local telephone set or instruments, and also to one of the two line wires which cor- 136 respond. or pertain particularly to that individual station, which may be termed local instrument wires for such particular station.

another connection is established at 51 from the bus-bar 13 to a source of current 0 through wire mi, thereby making the busbar 13 temporarily what might be termed a potential bus-bar. 'Bot-h bus-bars 13 and 11 have contacts spring-blades, jacks or keys A, B, C, D, etc, they can be connected to any one of a plurality of pairs of the local instrument wires of other stations. It is further characteristic of the present invention that the hell or indicator 33 has a permanent connection with the other terminal G of the source of current mentioned, which may be termed for convenience, the ringing battery.

The telephone set at each station compris-' ing the usual transmitter and receiver, in addition to the connections already referred to, is bridged ac'ross'a source of current-t, 25 through retardation coils 34, thus supplying the necessary electric energy for the purpose of producing the current voice pulsations in accordance with ordinary practice. The switch hook normally establishes a contact 42 for the hell or buzzer and from which current may be derived through a wire a from one of the local instrument wires as shown for example at a The circuit ot' the telephone set is normally open at the point 50, but is closed at this point and a circuit further established to the said local instrument wire a when the switch hook rises.

For the purposes of the electric features of the present invention the elements which have been termed bus-bars may of course be any suitable or equivalent conductors, and

I do not desire to be limited or restricted to the particular mechanical construction as shown.

By the foregoing all the purposes mentioned in the preliminary art-of this spec-itication ti'l'er accomplishe i it being understood that the polarity of the respective batteries or current sources is made as indicated in the drawings (or the reverse in both batteries which is obviously an exact equivalent). For the purposes of this specification it wilt not be necessary to do more than trace by which, through the illustrated in This may be readily analyzed and. found to be the case,

the circuit conditions in which may be termed the usual. or normal. operation, 2'. e. when one party calls another and talks to him, the various plugs bein out of their jacks except that plug inserte at the calling station for the purposes of the particular call and conversation under consideration.

I will assume that station P desires to call station 1?. Party P places the plug in jack C and depresses the ringing key 17. The ringing circuit is as follows, potential wire 0, wire m (station P blade 51, wire m bus-bar 13, righthand-blade of jack C,

wire C line wire 0 wire a of station P hook 30, bell 33, wire 11. back to G which is the other terminalrof the ringing battery. Station P being called in this way, removes receiver from hook, and station P (who may have removed receiverbefore or after calling) talks and listens through a circuit as follows, transmitter 23, receiver R, wire Z bus-bar 1 1, letthand-blade of jack C, wire 0, line wire 0 wire Pot station P receiver R, transmitter 23, switch hook 30, wire 11?, line wire 6- back to station P wire C,

in wire m back to transmitter 23. It will be observed that this circuit isequall adapted for talking and listening in bot directions. Inasmuch as all the stations of the system are identical, the operations of any other call or conversation are exactly like those already described.

I provide means by which the present intercommunicating system may be used in connection with the dictograph, such for example as is disclosed in Patent No. 927,230. As described in the patent mentioned, a dietograph station has a plurality of three wire circuits extending therefrom to the various stations to which communication is desired and such a three wire circuit is Fig. 10 and comprises wiresp, (1, anti 1'. The circuits of the dictograph proper to not torm any part of the pres ent invention except in their combination with the circuits of the present intercommunicating sysle 'n, and for this purpose a diagram of Fig. 11 may be referred to which illustrates the circuits after the dictograph station and intercomnulnicating station P so righthand-blade of jack C, bus-bar 13, wire have been put in communication. 1' may be;

when-.party I 1s talking is as follows, trans- 'mitter 23, switch hook- 30, wire g, Spring blade So, contact 81, wire 82, receiver or loud speaker -X of dictow'aph station, wire 83, battery it oi. diet a, aph station, wire 84, wire 85, blade 8t contact 87, wire 1) back to transmitter The circuit when the party at the dictograph station is talking is as follows, transmitter r of dictograph sta tion, wire J0, contactbl, spring blade 92, wire r, wire Z, receiver 1, wire 2, spring blade 87, contact Sti, wire 84:, dictograph battery ll back to transn'iitter Y. in calling the dietegraph station from party I, the circuit is as follows, negative battery 13,

wire in, contact; :31, wire Ht, spring blade tll-,-wire a, wire o, wire 80, contact 95, contacts 9t; and 97, wire 98, dictograph signal S back to positive battery 15'. whenthe dictograph station calls party 1, is as follows, spring blade EH3, contact 99, wire 100, wire 85, battery it, wire 102, wire a", buzzer 33, switch hook it, wire (1, blade 80, contact 95 back to spring blade no. it is to be understood that thespring blades or ltev of the dictograph station is substantially that. shown in. the prior patents already referred to, the blades 80, 86 and 92 being depressed for talking purposes and the blades :')t3 being elevated for calling pur- It does not however provide for s cy'ot the conversation between the dictograph station and party 1. In order to provide for secrecy I provide a jack A at station 1 constructed as shown in Fig. 10, and by which all connection to the wires (1. andfa is interrupted when a plug is inserted in" this jack during a dictograph conversa-tion. It will be observed that the elec tric circuits are otherwise the same if the {wires r and had been respectively joined to local instrument wires (1. and a. Also it will be observed that under normal condi tions when no plug is in the jack A, the circuits of station 1? to the other stations of the intercommunicating system are exactly as already described in connection with Fig. 9. Duringthe dictograph conversationthere is a separate talking circuit from each party to the'other. it is a characteristic of the system asahove described that conversatim'l directly into a transmitter is not required; on the contrary it is merely necessary to talk in an ordinary tone anywhere within the ten th of the receiver cord and the eliects a e as distinct and audibl as in any ordinary telephone usage. 'llus ol course is due to the nature o't'thc transmitter and its mcthod of support rather than the circuits, but. it makes the system a perfect; combination ol' convenience and elliciency f om a practical stamlpoint. hen the system is used in connection with a dictotz'raph it. will be observed that the talking circuits are altered to suit the chara ter ct d-icto; ;raph work.

What i claim is:

The circuit 1. In an inter-commonicating telephone systeni, a station having two bus-bars, a telephone transmitter, a telephone receiver, and two local instrument wires, a dictograph station, a wire therefrom joined to a point, in a circuit between said transmitter and said receiver, two other dietograph wires v adapted to be included in circuit with said bus-bars, and means for interrupting the connection of said transmitter and receiver with said local instrument wires.

2. In an intercommunicating telephone system, a station having two bus-bars, a telephone transmitter, a telephone receiver, and two local instrument wires, a dictograph station, a wire therefrom joined to a polnt in a circuit between said transmitter and said receiver, two other dictograph wires adapted to be included in circuit with said bus-bars, means for establishing the dictograph connection, and means for interrupting the connection of said transmitter and receiver with said local instrinncnt wires avhen such dictograph comn'iunicaticn is established.

23. in an intercomnumieatingtelephone system, a station having bus-bars and a telephone receiver and a telephone transmitter, a dictoggjraph station, a wire from said dict'ograph station joined to a point in a circuit between said transmitter and said receiver, and two other wires from said dictograph station adapted to be included in circuit with said bus-bars.

4. In an intercommunicating telephone system, a plurality of stations each having telephone instruments and. a pair of local iYlStllHl'lOlit; wires, a bus-bar at each station joined to one instrument wire and also to the instruments at its station, a switch hook normally disconnected from said instruments and joined to the other instrument wire, a potential source, two upper contacts for said book one of which is connected to the circuit of said instruments, a second bus-bannermally connected to the other said contact, means for discormecting, said second bus-bar 'lrom said contact and putting it in connection with said potential source, a plurality" of local instrument wires from other stalions, and means for joining said bus-bars in circuit with the wires of any selected sta-- tion.

In an intercon'imunicating telephone system, a plurality of stations each having telephone instruments and a pair ol local instrument wires, a conductor at each stationv joined to one lIlStl'llIl'lQIll; wire and also to the instrlnucnts at; such station, a switch hook normally tlisra'inm-ctcd lrom said instrlnucnts and joined to the other instru--- ment wire, two upper contacts l'o said hoolt, one of \\'lllt'll is connected to the cu'mut olt' said instrunu-nts. a second conductor normalty in electric connection with said other contact, a plurality of local instrument wires from other stations, and means for joining said conductors in circuit with the wires of any selected station.

6. In an intercommunicating telephone system, a plurality of stations each having telephone instruments and a pair of local instrument wires, a conductor at each station joined to one local instrument wire and also to the instruments at such station, a switch normally disconnected from said instruments and joined to the other local instrument wire, two upper contacts for said hook one of which is connected to the circuit of said instruments, a second conductor normally connecting with said other contact, means for disconnecting said second conductor from said contact, and means for joining said conductors in circuit with the wires of anyse lected station.

7 In an intercommunicating telephone system, a plurality of stations each havlng telephone instruments and a pair of local instrument wires, a bus-bar at each station joined to one instrument wire and also to the instruments at such station, a switch normally, disconnected ,from said instruments and oined to the other instrument wire two upper contacts for said hook one of which is connected to the circuit of said instruments, a second bus-bar normally connected to said other contact, means for disconnecting said second bus-bar from said contact during the act of making a call, and means tor putting said bus-bars in circuit with the wires of any selected station.

8; In an intercommunicating telephone system, a lurality of stations each having telephone instruments and a pair of local instrument wires, a bus-bar at each station normally joined to one lnstrument wire, and also to the instruments at such station, a

switch normally disconnected from said instruments and joined to the other instrument wire, two upper contacts for said hook one of which is connected to the circuit of said instruments, a second bus-bar normally connected to said other contact, a plurality of jacks for said bus-bar an a non-conducts ing plug at each station for said jacks adapted to put said bus-bars in circuit with the wires of any selected station.

9. In an intercommunicating telephone system, a plurality of stations each having telephone instruments and a pair of local instrument wires, a talking battery, a conductor at each station joined to one instrument wire and also to the instruments at such station and to a pole of certain sign of said battery, a switch normally disconnected from said instruments and joined to the other instrument wire, a second battery, a normally open switch contact, a second conduc- .tor normally electrically connected to said contact, means for disconnecting said second conductor from said instruments and putting it in connection with the pole of opposite sign of said second battery, and means for joining said conductors in circuit with the wires of any selected station.

. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PERCIVAL o. BURGESS.

Witnesses GRACE T. DIXON, W. J. MARTIN. 

